US2695584A - Surface craft - Google Patents
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- US2695584A US2695584A US180459A US18045950A US2695584A US 2695584 A US2695584 A US 2695584A US 180459 A US180459 A US 180459A US 18045950 A US18045950 A US 18045950A US 2695584 A US2695584 A US 2695584A
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- craft
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- section
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60F—VEHICLES FOR USE BOTH ON RAIL AND ON ROAD; AMPHIBIOUS OR LIKE VEHICLES; CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES
- B60F3/00—Amphibious vehicles, i.e. vehicles capable of travelling both on land and on water; Land vehicles capable of travelling under water
- B60F3/0061—Amphibious vehicles specially adapted for particular purposes or of a particular type
- B60F3/0076—Amphibious snowmobiles
Definitions
- n h s 1 Fig -,1 is a side elevation of the surfacecraft of this invention
- Fig. 2 is la bottom plan view of theicraftshbwni in.
- Fig 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1;
- Fig-Y. 4 is a verticallongitudinal section vtak enialong;
- the craft 1t) of-this invention is provided with a p inted bow section 11, a pointed stern section 12 andra mid-section 13 which is substantially rectangular-in :Shape,- joined: ateither'end' to the bow and; stern sejctions respectively and having straight parallel sides -14 and 15 extending between the ends ofthe bowsection and the section.
- the bow,"mid and ;stern sectionsqof' the craft are so proportioned; that their side s are approximately parallel to tangents to theminimurmturningcircle .-of the craft are'held of the craft.
- the port side ofv th'e -bow section -ispa1 allel to a line; tangent tcw the part-of the circle closest to thabsideof the bow section; the port side -of the rnid-section is' parallel to a line: tangent tothe part of the-- circle;closest to the niid---' section; and the port side of the stern section is parallel to na line-tangent to the part of thecircleclosest -tol that side of the" stern sectioniachieved' without now orrwaterzpil-in up against either the bow or stern sections
- turein cludes 'avertical keel 30 in thefform ofan l beam which runs' from bow'to stern of the craft. longituciinalfstrengthening isjsupplied by a numberf-of stringers 31 whichext'endfr'ombowto 'stern and through" a forward transverse bulkhead-32 'and an-aft bulkhead33.
- the stern section 12 aft"of the bulkhead 33 constitutes a watertight compartment which'has"sufi i cient buoyancy tokeepth'e craft afloat should hulldamage occur.
- tliat' bow section 11 curves upwardly portion 3 4 of the bbttom"16 whichYextends underthe rves upwardly? and rearwardly and'merges' with a'cabin se'ctioni' 37.
- the Q cabin: section defines a (seating compartment 38 provided with a chair 39, for the operator and with windows 40 forforward view.
- the aft-part of the cabin section is provided with a 'dewnwardly, slanting rear"closur"e 41 whose sides ta'p'er inwardly alo'ngfthe top deck42 of thef mid-sectionancl'm'ee't at a point'at the centerline of the, craft
- Thesides of e rear' closu'reare substantizally parallelto the sides 25 and 26 of the ster-nsectiomarid their position relative thereto may be seen in the dotted lines marked 41d and 4Ib in Fig 6 e
- a pair of retractable wheels and46 adapted to be raised manually into wells 47 and 48 formed into the bottom and extending up into the seating compartment 38.
- the wheels may be lowered manually whenever it is desired to use the craft for travel over land and may be retracted for travel over snow, ice or water.
- a motor 50 carrying an air propeller 51 to provide propulsion for the craft.
- the propeller 51 is guarded by a number of guard rods which are secured to the cabin structure and to an inverted U- haped guard ring 52.
- the guard rods include an upper rod 53 secured to the top of the for-' Ward part of the cabin and to the top of the guard ring, and two pairs of side guard rods 54, 54a and 55, 55a on opposite sides of the craft which are vertically spaced along the rear closure 41 and extend from that closure to and slightly beyond the guard ring 52.
- a generally V-shaped guard rod assembly 56 is so arranged as'to have the point of the V secured at spaced points to the after part of thecabin structure and the legs of the V extending outwardly to the guard ring.
- the motor 50 is mounted above thestern section on a number of supporting rods.
- a V-shaped supporting rod assembly 57 has the outer ends of its legs secured to spaced points at the forward end of the motor with the apex of the V being secured to the deck 43 at the location of the after bulkhead 33 so that the weight of that part of the motor is carried through the deck and to the bulkhead.
- a second V-shaped supporting rod assembly 58 is provided on the opposite side of the craft and secured to the the bulkhead 33 in a similar manner.
- a single vertical supporting rod 59 extends vertically downwardly from the motor and is connected to the keel member 30 through the deck portion 42.
- An additional V- shaped supporting rod assembly 60 is secured to the after part of the motor and extends downwardly and rearwardly therefrom with the apex of the V being located at the tail end of the stern section and connected to the keel 30 at the juncture of the stern.
- the motor is rigidthe entire weight of the motor is transferred to the various structural members described and in no case is borne at any point by the deck alone.
- the guard rods and guard ring provide ample protection for the propeller when travelling through thick brush and the like, and the hull itself is provided with a bumper rail 61 which extends completely around the craft to ward off low brush and the like and assist in the travel through obstructed areas.
- the wheel itself is rotatably mounted in a U-shaped bracket 64 carried by a vertical rod 65 rotatably mounted on a cross bar 66 secured to the ends of a V-shaped supporting assembly 67 which in turn is secured to the motor 50. Additional support for the bracket 64 is provided by another V-shaped supporting rod structure 68 which has the ends of its legs secured to the sides of the bracket 64 and the apex secured to the vertical rod 65.
- the rod 65 is slidable vertically in the cross bar 66 and may be retracted manually to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 when the craft is travelling over water, ice or snow and may be extended downwardly manually and locked in a position wherein the wheel extends below the bottom of the craft whenever it is desired to travel over land.
- a novel control system is provided for the craft which is adapted to change the direction of travel regardless of whether the craft is travelling over ice, snow, water or land.
- a pair of twin rudders 70 are provided on the stern section and located in the slipstream of the propeller. Rotation of the rudders about a vertical axis will, of course, turn the craft when it is travelling over water and assist in turning the craft when it is travelling over other surfaces.
- the flap members 27 and 28 are adapted to be rotated downwardly into contact with the surface over which the craft is travelling either individually to turn the craft or simultaneously to brake the craft.
- movable runners 23 and 24 may be turned simultaneously in the same direction to turn the craft deck 44 at the location of aft of the stern section is a third reto a second bracket secured to .in Fig. 6) serves through the medium of or simultaneously in the opposite direction again to serve as a brake. i a
- the first control actuating member comprises a rudder bar 71 pivotally mounted in a bracket 72 pivotally mounted on the keel in the bow section.
- a bracket 73 is connected to the bow of the craft and to the spring 74 which is connected the central control column to urge the control column toward counterclockwise movement.
- a pair of connecting rods 76 and 77 have one end pivotally secured to the rudder bar 71 and the other end pivotally secured to-lever arms 78 and 79 respectively.
- the lever arms are provided with a horizontal portion attached to the rods 76 and 77 with vertical portions 80 and 81 which extend downwardly through the bottom and second horizontal portions 82 and 83 located beneath the bottom and slidably secured in seats in the movable runners aft of the pivot points 84 and 85 about which the runners rotate.
- the runners 23 and 24 are caused to rotate in aclockwise direction to turn the craft to the right while pressure on the left hand portion of the rudder bar causes the runners to rotate in an anti-clockwise movement and thus cause turning movement to the left.
- both runners will be caused to move, directions and the runners will assume a toeing-out position which serves to brake the craft.
- the flap members 27 and 28 are also secured to the rudder bar by means of the flexible connections 86 and 87 which extend rearwardly and are connected to brackets 90 and 91 respectively, slidably mounted on. rods 92 and 93.
- the rods 92 and 93 have their lower ends secured to the sides of the stern section and extend rearwardly and upwardly therefrom with their outer ends being secured to a second cross bar 94 fixed to the motor mount by means of the supporting rods 95 and 96 and to the stern of the rods 96a and 96b.
- Pivotally secured to the brackets 90 and 91 is a pair of actuating rods 97 and 98.
- the actuating rods extend downwardly from the bracket and are pivotally secured to the flaps 27 and 28, respectively.
- a second controlling member in the form of a control column 103 is also located in the seating'compartment 38 and is provided at its lower end with an inverted U-shaped bracket 104 to which flexible control cables 105 and 106 are secured. The opposite ends of the control cables are secured to the bracket 64 which carries the after wheel. Rotation of the control column 103 about a vertical axis serves cables 105 and 106 to rotate the bracket 64 and hence the supporting rod 65 to which it is secured.
- Firmly secured to the supporting rod 65 is an arm 107 which is pivotally secured at its outer end to a pair of arms 108 and 109 which in turn aresecured to the twin rudder the bracket 72, but in opposite assembly 70.
- both the rudder bar. and control column may be rotated in the desired direction of turn to call into play the entire control system to increase the maneuverability of. the craft.
- a control system for. a craft capable. ofttravelling, having ahull, a V-shaped stern and a flat bottom andhavinga motordriven air.
- a control system for a craft capable of travelling over snow, ice, land and water having a hull, a bottom and a motor driven craft comprising a ruddermember mounted in the-slipstream of the propeller for rotation about a vertical axis, a flap member mounted on the stern on one side of the centerline of the craft for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting said centerline at an acute angle, a second flap member mounted on the stern on the other side of said centerline for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerline at an acute angle, a pair of spaced parallel runner members rotatably mounted on the bottom adjacent the forward end of the craft and positioned on opposite sides of the centerline, a moveable control member connected to said members, said control member being adapted when moved in one direction to rotate the rudder member and when moved in another direction to rotate the runner members in opposite directions to a nonparallel position and simultaneously to rotate the flap members downwardly, and a second movably mounted control member connected to
- the centerline of the craft serves to assist the craft in .ridingup over the snow even though travelling over. land or water, rowcolumn 103 about t its vertical axis
- the rudderbar serves not only to turn the runners but also to depress.
- each of the fiap members havingasurface extendinga substantial dis tance parallel to its pivotalaxis, a-p'air ofspaced parallel runner members rotatably mounted onthe bottom adjacent the'forward endof the craft and positioned on opposite sides of the centerline, a control devicemount edfor rotation-about-each of two axes perpendicular: to each othert and connected to all of said-members; being adapted when rotated about rotated about' its other axis .to rotate'the runner members in opposite directions to a nonparallel position and simultaneously to rotate the flap members downwardly to bring. said surfaces into contact with the surface over which the craftis traveling.
- acontrol system for a craft capable of travelling over snow, ice, land an water having a hull, a bottom; and a motor driven air propeller for propulsion of -the craft in: combination, a flap membermountedof the centerline .of the craft on' 'the sternl'oni one side for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting saidcenterline at an acute. angle,. a second flap member mounted on the stern on the other an acute angle, a pair of spaced parallelirunner members rotatably mounted on the bottomladjacent'the forwardiend of the craft and positioned on opposite sides of the.
- each of the flapj members having a surface extending a substantial distance parallel to its pivotal axis, arotatably mounted control member connected to the flap members and to the -runner-members and adapted whenrotated to rotate the! runner members in the samexdirection, and simultaneously to depress only the flap member on the --side toward which the fore-to-aft line of the a runner surface of the depressed the surface over, which member mounted on the stern on one 'side of the .cen-
- a second flap member mounted on the' stern 'on-the other side of said centerline for pivotal movement-about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerIineat an-acute angle
- a pairof spaced parallel-"runner members rotatably mounted onthe bot tom-adjacent the -forward end of the craft and positioned on opposite sides of the centerline
- a manually operable control column mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis and movable fore and.
- control column being connected to said members and adapted when rotated to rotate the rudder member and when moved in a fore-to-aft direction to rotate the runner members in opposite directions to a toeing-out posi tion and simultaneously to rotate the flap members down wardly, and a rotatably mounted rudder bar connected to the flap members and to the runner members and adapt ed when rotated to rotate the runner members in the same direction, and simultaneously to depress only the flap member on the side toward which the fore-to-aft line of the runner members is inclined.
- a craft capable of travelling over'snow, ice, land and water comprising a pointed stern section, a pointed bow section, a substantially rectangular mid-section in- 7 termediate, and secured to the; bow and stem sections, abottom having akeelfand extending under said sec: tionsandbeing in.
- a craft capable of travelling over snow, ice, land and water comprising a hullhaving a substantially rectangular mid-section, a pointed bow section and a pointed stern section,-a flap member mounted along one side of the stern for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerline of the craft at an acute angle, a second flap member mounted along the other side of the stern for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerline at an acute angle, a pair of spaced parallel runner members rotatably mounted on the bottom of the craft adjacent the forward end thereof and positioned on opposite sides of the centerline, means for rotating said runners in the same direction and simultaneously to depress only the flap member on the side toward which the fore to aft line of the runner members is inclined to turn the craft, the sides on the port side of the craft being parallel to lines tangent to the closest portion of the minimum turning circle when the craft is making a minimum turn to the right and the sides on the starboard side of the craft, being parallel to lines
- a craft capable of travelling over snow, and water comprising a pointed bow section
- a bottom having a keel and extending under said sections and being in the shape of a shallow V and inclining upwardly under the bow section, a deck over the bow section, curved sides extending downwardly from said deck to the bottom thereunder, a center deck extending along each side of the mid-section parallel to the side edges of the bottom thereunder, vertical sides joining the center deck and said edges of the bottom, a deck over the stern section, straight sides along the edges of the bottom under the stern section and a motor driven air propeller mounted on the stern section, a rudder member mounted in the slip-stream of the propeller for rotation about a vertical axis, a flap member mounted on the stern on one side of the centerline of the craft for pivotal movement about the shape of a shallow V and in-,
- a pointed. stern section a substantially rectangular mid-section 1n-' a substantially, horizontal axis. intersecting said centerline ten wt g e a. seco flap m mbc mo n ed ont stern on the other si ment'about'a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerline at an acute angle, a pair of spaced parallel runner members rotatably mounted on the bottom adjacent the forward end of the craft and positioned on opposite sides of the centerline, a movable control device connected to all'of said members, said control device being adapted when moved in, one direction to rotate the rudder member and when moved in another direction to rotate therunner members in opposite directions to a nonparallel position and simultaneously to rotate the flap members downwardly, and a second movably mounted control device connected to the flap members and to the runner members and adapted to rotate the runner members in the same direction, and simultaneously to depress only the fiap member on the side toward which the fore-to-aft line of
- vA craft capable of travelling over snow, ice, land and water comprising a pointed bow section, a pointed stern section, a substantially rectangular mid-section intermediate and secured to the bow and stern sections, a bottom having a keel and extending under said sections and being in the shape of a shallow Vv and inclining upwardly under the bow section, a runner adjacent and parallel to each of said side edges of the bottom with the keel and the runners lying in a single plane, a deck over the bow section, curved sides extending downwardly from said deck to the bottom thereunder, an inwardly inclined step portion extending along each side of the mid-section parallel to the side edges of the bottom thereunder, vertical sides joining the step portions and said edges of the bottom, a deck over the stern section, straight sides along theedges of the bottom under the stern section and extending vertically upwards therefrom, a pair of wells adjacent the-forward end of the bottom, a pair of wheels on the craft with each wheel being retractable into a dilferent
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Description
Nov. 30, 1954 w. A. WATTERS 2,695,584
SURFACE CRAFT Filed Aug. 19, 1 50 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 30, 1954 w. A. WATTERS SURFACE CRAFT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 19, 1950 INVENTOR. ll/zllard 6 21/1)? Ll/azzzers United States 2,695,584 Patented v. 3Q, 1954 1 entire Willard Alvinwattr's'; Grand"-Mami,NHiin: Application August '19, 1950 SiialNo. 180,459 lociimss ci.:1'14- 43 This invention ice; =land :and: water;
It is -;the principal object of this' invention to produce a isurfacewcraftof new and improved desi'gn and con-' structiona It is amore specific object ofi this inventi'on'to produce of travelling o'ver snow; ice; land? or water'which is light in weight and yet-is: provided with a craft capable a" simple and rigid hullde'signi" It is a. furtherobject o'f thlS'illVCIlfiQIlutG produce a the p're'ceding paragraphs tihigh 1 speed 1 over the a relativelyi light ihorsealso act as brakes andsimilarly to:- provide: the hull with certain. structural members .which=:.serve' i not only to stiffen and strengthen the hull but also serveas supports for the motor mount. l i
Other and furtherobjects of the inventionfwilli become apparent; from the following, description and drawings, in which: n h s 1 Fig -,1 is a side elevation of the surfacecraft of this invention;
Fig. 2 is la bottom plan view of theicraftshbwni in.
Fig 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1;
Fig-Y. 4 ,is a verticallongitudinal section vtak enialong;
line 4 4 of Fig; 2
,Fig. Sjisa transverse vertical sectiontakenxalongjine "5,Q 1; .n i v Fig.6 is a top plan schemati'c view of the-control systemwith the outlines of the craft shown inphantom, and a a A a Fig. 7 isavertical sectionialong line 7-7 of Fig: 4. While my; invention is susceptible of embodiment in tion willbe pointed out in the appended claims;
Referring now tofthe drawings, .the craft 1t) of-this inventionis provided with a p inted bow section 11, a pointed stern section 12 andra mid-section 13 which is substantially rectangular-in :Shape,- joined: ateither'end' to the bow and; stern sejctions respectively and having straight parallel sides -14 and 15 extending between the ends ofthe bowsection and the section. for the craft, the bow,"mid and ;stern sectionsqof' the craft are so proportioned; that their side s are approximately parallel to tangents to theminimurmturningcircle .-of the craft are'held of the craft. When the controls imposition forthesharpest possible turn,-thercraft will travel in. a circle; which circlegis normally called ;the
minimum turning? circle, and- :the
relates l to: a surface" craft i and more" particularly to a? craft cap'able of f travelling over snow,
object o f:the invention-is toproduce a:
seope of the invenr beginning of the stern In order to achieve maximum maneuverabilitycraft travels along the 2s circumference ofi suc h circli When"- soturnin-g; for ex' ample to -the-right, -an ar'cuate portion of the zbott'om' travels precisely: along the-circumference:of -the circleand thus the port side of I the bow; rnid and stern-see tions :arelcl'ose to the circle-and; in the craft' showng a're parallel to lines tangent to-the circle-at the closest point off the circle to: each of the-sections. Thus the port side ofv th'e -bow section -ispa1 allel to a line; tangent tcw the part-of the circle closest to thabsideof the bow section; the port side -of the rnid-section is' parallel to a line: tangent tothe part of the-- circle;closest to the niid---' section; and the port side of the stern section is parallel to na line-tangent to the part of thecircleclosest -tol that side of the" stern sectioniachieved' without now orrwaterzpil-in up against either the bow or stern sections The bottom 16 shape of ashallowfvg' the'-V being' upright-an -is vided. with,a 'number -of-fiXedskegs or runner cent the sides 14 and 15 -is a over'uicejonly' a minimum sur face is actually"- resting" thermore, the weight of the craft is spread over-the entire width between; the outerrunners.- fact and-because none of -'-the runners nor-the cehterof the craft ar'e below any 'of the otherrunner's; I I reduce the danger of one runner retarding th'e progress of the craft. When travelling over deep snow the entire surface of the' bottoin, of -course",
comes into 'co'ntact with'the snow to supp'ort' th'e cr aftfi Forward of'the fixed-runners and lying alongia linesubstantially midway between "the' outer and inner fixed" runners is-a:pair'of movable"runners-23 and' 24. Se cured to the sides 25 pair' of movable flaps27 and 28"which withthe'r'noyable runners form a part of "the control system hereinafter: to be described; I
As best sh'owii in =Figsb3, tureincludes 'avertical keel 30 in thefform ofan l beam which runs' from bow'to stern of the craft. longituciinalfstrengthening isjsupplied by a numberf-of stringers 31 whichext'endfr'ombowto 'stern and through" a forward transverse bulkhead-32 'and an-aft bulkhead33. The stern section 12 aft"of the bulkhead 33 constitutes a watertight compartment which'has"sufi i cient buoyancy tokeepth'e craft afloat should hulldamage occur. y s a As will be noted from an inspection"of'Fig 1, tliat' bow section 11- curves upwardly portion 3 4 of the bbttom"16 whichYextends underthe rves upwardly? and rearwardly and'merges' with a'cabin se'ctioni' 37. The Q cabin: section defines a (seating compartment 38 provided with a chair 39, for the operator and with windows 40 forforward view. The aft-part of the cabin sectionis provided with a 'dewnwardly, slanting rear"closur"e 41 whose sides ta'p'er inwardly alo'ngfthe top deck42 of thef mid-sectionancl'm'ee't at a point'at the centerline of the, craft Thesides of e rear' closu'reare substantizally parallelto the sides 25 and 26 of the ster-nsectiomarid their position relative thereto may be seen in the dotted lines marked 41d and 4Ib in Fig 6 e The 'midr-section .13 is' provided with-,straight sides 14and 15 as hereinbefore described which extend' ver ticallyvupward from the outer edges of'the bottomt ats mid-section and: are connected to: a ce'nter deck com-r prising inwardly inclinedstepped portions 42: and 44 breaking through thinice and =and 26 0f the stern section is a Additional f e but also when which run longitudinally along the sides of the craft and merge with the cabin along the seating compartment 38 and, aft of the cabin, with the upper deck 42.
Also located in the mid-section of the craft is a pair of retractable wheels and46 adapted to be raised manually into wells 47 and 48 formed into the bottom and extending up into the seating compartment 38. The wheels may be lowered manually whenever it is desired to use the craft for travel over land and may be retracted for travel over snow, ice or water.
Mounted on the stern section 12 is a motor 50 carrying an air propeller 51 to provide propulsion for the craft. The propeller 51 is guarded by a number of guard rods which are secured to the cabin structure and to an inverted U- haped guard ring 52. The guard rods include an upper rod 53 secured to the top of the for-' Ward part of the cabin and to the top of the guard ring, and two pairs of side guard rods 54, 54a and 55, 55a on opposite sides of the craft which are vertically spaced along the rear closure 41 and extend from that closure to and slightly beyond the guard ring 52. A generally V-shaped guard rod assembly 56 is so arranged as'to have the point of the V secured at spaced points to the after part of thecabin structure and the legs of the V extending outwardly to the guard ring.
The motor 50 is mounted above thestern section on a number of supporting rods. A V-shaped supporting rod assembly 57 has the outer ends of its legs secured to spaced points at the forward end of the motor with the apex of the V being secured to the deck 43 at the location of the after bulkhead 33 so that the weight of that part of the motor is carried through the deck and to the bulkhead. Similarly a second V-shaped supporting rod assembly 58 is provided on the opposite side of the craft and secured to the the bulkhead 33 in a similar manner. A single vertical supporting rod 59 extends vertically downwardly from the motor and is connected to the keel member 30 through the deck portion 42. An additional V- shaped supporting rod assembly 60 is secured to the after part of the motor and extends downwardly and rearwardly therefrom with the apex of the V being located at the tail end of the stern section and connected to the keel 30 at the juncture of the stern.
By so arranging the supporting rods the motor is rigidthe entire weight of the motor is transferred to the various structural members described and in no case is borne at any point by the deck alone. The guard rods and guard ring provide ample protection for the propeller when travelling through thick brush and the like, and the hull itself is provided with a bumper rail 61 which extends completely around the craft to ward off low brush and the like and assist in the travel through obstructed areas.
Mounted just tractable wheel 63. The wheel itself is rotatably mounted in a U-shaped bracket 64 carried by a vertical rod 65 rotatably mounted on a cross bar 66 secured to the ends of a V-shaped supporting assembly 67 which in turn is secured to the motor 50. Additional support for the bracket 64 is provided by another V-shaped supporting rod structure 68 which has the ends of its legs secured to the sides of the bracket 64 and the apex secured to the vertical rod 65. The rod 65 is slidable vertically in the cross bar 66 and may be retracted manually to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 when the craft is travelling over water, ice or snow and may be extended downwardly manually and locked in a position wherein the wheel extends below the bottom of the craft whenever it is desired to travel over land.
A novel control system is provided for the craft which is adapted to change the direction of travel regardless of whether the craft is travelling over ice, snow, water or land. To this end a pair of twin rudders 70 are provided on the stern section and located in the slipstream of the propeller. Rotation of the rudders about a vertical axis will, of course, turn the craft when it is travelling over water and assist in turning the craft when it is travelling over other surfaces. The flap members 27 and 28 are adapted to be rotated downwardly into contact with the surface over which the craft is travelling either individually to turn the craft or simultaneously to brake the craft. In a similar manner the movable runners 23 and 24 may be turned simultaneously in the same direction to turn the craft deck 44 at the location of aft of the stern section is a third reto a second bracket secured to .in Fig. 6) serves through the medium of or simultaneously in the opposite direction again to serve as a brake. i a
For the purpose of operating the controls, two control actuating members are shown. The first control actuating member comprises a rudder bar 71 pivotally mounted in a bracket 72 pivotally mounted on the keel in the bow section. A bracket 73 is connected to the bow of the craft and to the spring 74 which is connected the central control column to urge the control column toward counterclockwise movement. A pair of connecting rods 76 and 77 have one end pivotally secured to the rudder bar 71 and the other end pivotally secured to- lever arms 78 and 79 respectively. The lever arms are provided with a horizontal portion attached to the rods 76 and 77 with vertical portions 80 and 81 which extend downwardly through the bottom and second horizontal portions 82 and 83 located beneath the bottom and slidably secured in seats in the movable runners aft of the pivot points 84 and 85 about which the runners rotate. Thus by foot pressure on the rudder bar 71, for example on the portion to the right of the bracket 72, the runners 23 and 24 are caused to rotate in aclockwise direction to turn the craft to the right while pressure on the left hand portion of the rudder bar causes the runners to rotate in an anti-clockwise movement and thus cause turning movement to the left. Should the rudder bar be moved forwardlywithout being rotated by pivoting both runners will be caused to move, directions and the runners will assume a toeing-out position which serves to brake the craft.
The flap members 27 and 28 are also secured to the rudder bar by means of the flexible connections 86 and 87 which extend rearwardly and are connected to brackets 90 and 91 respectively, slidably mounted on. rods 92 and 93. The rods 92 and 93 have their lower ends secured to the sides of the stern section and extend rearwardly and upwardly therefrom with their outer ends being secured to a second cross bar 94 fixed to the motor mount by means of the supporting rods 95 and 96 and to the stern of the rods 96a and 96b. Pivotally secured to the brackets 90 and 91 is a pair of actuating rods 97 and 98. The actuating rods extend downwardly from the bracket and are pivotally secured to the flaps 27 and 28, respectively.
From the foregoing it can be seen that rotation of the rudder bar in a counter-clockwise direction (as shown the control cable 87 to slide the bracket 91 downwardly on the rod 93 and thus to depress the flap member 28. Rotation of the rudder bar in this direction has no eifect' on the flap member 27 which remains in its normal horizontal position. It is clear that rotation of the rudder bar in the opposite direction serves to depress the flap member 27, the fiap member 28 remaining in its normal horizontal position. bers to their normal position, compression springs 100 and 101 surround the rods 93 and 92, respectively, and have one end bearing against the brackets 90-91 and the other end bearing against the deck at the lower ends of the rods.
A second controlling member in the form of a control column 103 is also located in the seating'compartment 38 and is provided at its lower end with an inverted U-shaped bracket 104 to which flexible control cables 105 and 106 are secured. The opposite ends of the control cables are secured to the bracket 64 which carries the after wheel. Rotation of the control column 103 about a vertical axis serves cables 105 and 106 to rotate the bracket 64 and hence the supporting rod 65 to which it is secured. Firmly secured to the supporting rod 65 is an arm 107 which is pivotally secured at its outer end to a pair of arms 108 and 109 which in turn aresecured to the twin rudder the bracket 72, but in opposite assembly 70. Thus rotation of the rod 65 serves through- In order to insure the return of the flap mem through the medium of the berotated aboutthe' shaft 112 as its axis. -As best-shown'inEig. 4, the lower ends of 1 the -U-shaped "member 113 are secured b'y means of rods 114-and' 1-15 to thepbracke-t 72. Thus rotation-of the control column 103'about thepivot point 116- of the shaft 112serves th-I'Ollghlhf: medium of the to pivot the bracket 72 i and hence to rods 114'and 115 move the rudder bar 71 This rearward rocking of to brake the craft inasmuch as the movement impart= ed to-the rudder bar servesto rotate the rudders 23 and forwardly without rotating it.
24- in opposite directions while simultaneously depress-- section are also curved upwardly it is turning. When tation of the control serves to rotate bothtthe stern wheel-63 and the twin rudders.
one of the flaps at the stern sectionwhichhas thezefitect of skidding the stern section around in the direction desired. It should be any surface, both the rudder bar. and control column may be rotated in the desired direction of turn to call into play the entire control system to increase the maneuverability of. the craft.
Itclaim:
1. A control system for. a craft capable. ofttravelling, having ahull, a V-shaped stern and a flat bottom andhavinga motordriven air.
over snow, ice, land and water propeller for propulsion of the craft, comprisinga rud-U der member mounted in the slipstream of the pro eller forrotation about a vertical axis, a flap member mounted along oneside of the stern for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerlineof'the craft at an acute angle, a second flap member mounted along the other side of, the-sterngfor pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerline at'an acute angle, aipair of spaced parallel runner members-rotatably mounted on-j the bottom adjacent the forward end of the craft and positioned \atopposite sides of the. centerline, ,a: control member mounted for rotation abouteachpf two axes perpendicular to each other and connectedto said members, saidcontrol member being adapted when rotated;
about one of its axes to rotate the rudder member and when rotated about its other axis to rotate the{ runner members in opposite directions to a toeing-out position andisimultaneously to rotate..the flap members downwardly, and a second rotatably mounted control member connected to the flap members and .to the runner members and adapted when rotated to' rotate the runner members in the same direction, and simultaneouslyto depress only the flap member on the side toward which the fore-to-aft lineof the runner members is inclined;
2. A control system for a craft capable of travelling over snow, ice, land and water having a hull, a bottom and a motor driven craft comprising a ruddermember mounted in the-slipstream of the propeller for rotation about a vertical axis, a flap member mounted on the stern on one side of the centerline of the craft for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting said centerline at an acute angle, a second flap member mounted on the stern on the other side of said centerline for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerline at an acute angle, a pair of spaced parallel runner members rotatably mounted on the bottom adjacent the forward end of the craft and positioned on opposite sides of the centerline, a moveable control member connected to said members, said control member being adapted when moved in one direction to rotate the rudder member and when moved in another direction to rotate the runner members in opposite directions to a nonparallel position and simultaneously to rotate the flap members downwardly, and a second movably mounted control member connected to the flap members the control column 103 servesthe craft in soft snow. The
In addition, however, the fact thatthe centerline of the craft serves to assist the craft in .ridingup over the snow even though travelling over. land or water, rowcolumn 103 about t its vertical axis When turning over ice or snow, the rudderbar: serves not only to turn the runners but also to depress.
obvious, however, .that. turning; on.
air propeller for propulsion ofthe said controldevice.
one-of its axes to rotate the rudder member and when side of said centerline at ously to depress onlythe fiap member on'the side to ward which the fore-to-aft-line of the-runner members-- is inclined.-
3 in acontrol 5 system =fora craft capable of travelling over snow; ice; land-and 7 water having a hull, a bottom; motor driven air propeller for propulsion of the craftyin combination a rudder-member-mounted in the and slipstream of the propeller for. rotation about a vertical axis; a=flap member mounted on the stern onone side of thecenterline of'the craft for pivotal movement about ai. substantially horizontal axisintersectingsaid centerline'at an acute angle, a second flap member mounted'on the stern on the-other sideof said centerline for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting' the-centerline at an acute angle, each of the fiap members havingasurface extendinga substantial dis tance parallel to its pivotalaxis, a-p'air ofspaced parallel runner members rotatably mounted onthe bottom adjacent the'forward endof the craft and positioned on opposite sides of the centerline, a control devicemount edfor rotation-about-each of two axes perpendicular: to each othert and connected to all of said-members; being adapted when rotated about rotated about' its other axis .to rotate'the runner members in opposite directions to a nonparallel position and simultaneously to rotate the flap members downwardly to bring. said surfaces into contact with the surface over which the craftis traveling.
4i In acontrol system for a craft capable of travelling over snow, ice, land an water having a hull, a bottom; and a motor driven air propeller for propulsion of -the craft, in: combination, a flap membermountedof the centerline .of the craft on' 'the sternl'oni one side for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting saidcenterline at an acute. angle,. a second flap member mounted on the stern on the other an acute angle, a pair of spaced parallelirunner members rotatably mounted on the bottomladjacent'the forwardiend of the craft and positioned on opposite sides of the. centerline, each of the flapj members having a surface extending a substantial distance parallel to its pivotal axis, arotatably mounted control member connected to the flap members and to the -runner-members and adapted whenrotated to rotate the! runner members in the samexdirection, and simultaneously to depress only the flap member on the --side toward which the fore-to-aft line of the a runner surface of the depressed the surface over, which member mounted on the stern on one 'side of the .cen-
terline of 'the craft for-pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting said centerline at an acute angle, a second flap member mounted on the' stern 'on-the other side of said centerline for pivotal movement-about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerIineat an-acute angle, a pairof spaced parallel-"runner members rotatably mounted onthe bot tom-adjacent the -forward end of the craft and positioned on opposite sides of the centerline, a manually operable control column mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis and movable fore and. aft, said control column being connected to said members and adapted when rotated to rotate the rudder member and when moved in a fore-to-aft direction to rotate the runner members in opposite directions to a toeing-out posi tion and simultaneously to rotate the flap members down wardly, and a rotatably mounted rudder bar connected to the flap members and to the runner members and adapt ed when rotated to rotate the runner members in the same direction, and simultaneously to depress only the flap member on the side toward which the fore-to-aft line of the runner members is inclined.
6. A craft capable of travelling over'snow, ice, land and water comprising a pointed stern section, a pointed bow section, a substantially rectangular mid-section in- 7 termediate, and secured to the; bow and stem sections, abottom having akeelfand extending under said sec: tionsandbeing in. clining upwardlyunder the bow section, a fixed runner adjacent and parallel to each of said edges of the bottom and extending below the bottom, a pair of spaced controllable runners rotatably mounted on the bottom substantially at the juncture of the mid-section to the bow section, said'keel and said fixed and controllable runners, lying in a single plane, .a pair of controllable flaps on the sides of the stern section with each flap beingpivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the side to which it is secured and having a surface extending a substantial distance parallel to its pivotal axis, each flap being movable to a position in whichat least a portion of said surface of the flap extends below the bottom, a deck over the bowsection, curved sides extending downwardly from said deck to the bottom thereunder, a center deck extending alongeach side of the mid-section parallel to the side edges of the bottom thereunder, vertical sides joining the center deck and said edges of the bottom, a deck over the stern section, straight sides along the edges of the bottom under the stern section and extending vertically upwards therefrom to the last named deck, an air propeller mounted on the stern section, and means for rotating the runners,v and for moving the flaps to control the craft.
v7. A craft capable of travelling over snow, ice, land and water comprising a hullhaving a substantially rectangular mid-section, a pointed bow section and a pointed stern section,-a flap member mounted along one side of the stern for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerline of the craft at an acute angle, a second flap member mounted along the other side of the stern for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerline at an acute angle, a pair of spaced parallel runner members rotatably mounted on the bottom of the craft adjacent the forward end thereof and positioned on opposite sides of the centerline, means for rotating said runners in the same direction and simultaneously to depress only the flap member on the side toward which the fore to aft line of the runner members is inclined to turn the craft, the sides on the port side of the craft being parallel to lines tangent to the closest portion of the minimum turning circle when the craft is making a minimum turn to the right and the sides on the starboard side of the craft, being parallel to lines tangent to the closest portion of the minimum turning circle when the craft is making a minimum turn to the left.
8. A craft capable of travelling over snow, and water comprising a pointed bow section,
ice, land termediate and secured to the bow and stem sections, a bottom having a keel and extending under said sections and being in the shape of a shallow V and inclining upwardly under the bow section, a deck over the bow section, curved sides extending downwardly from said deck to the bottom thereunder, a center deck extending along each side of the mid-section parallel to the side edges of the bottom thereunder, vertical sides joining the center deck and said edges of the bottom, a deck over the stern section, straight sides along the edges of the bottom under the stern section and a motor driven air propeller mounted on the stern section, a rudder member mounted in the slip-stream of the propeller for rotation about a vertical axis, a flap member mounted on the stern on one side of the centerline of the craft for pivotal movement about the shape of a shallow V and in-,
. a pointed. stern section, a substantially rectangular mid-section 1n-' a substantially, horizontal axis. intersecting said centerline ten wt g e a. seco flap m mbc mo n ed ont stern on the other si ment'about'a substantially horizontal axis intersecting the centerline at an acute angle, a pair of spaced parallel runner members rotatably mounted on the bottom adjacent the forward end of the craft and positioned on opposite sides of the centerline, a movable control device connected to all'of said members, said control device being adapted when moved in, one direction to rotate the rudder member and when moved in another direction to rotate therunner members in opposite directions to a nonparallel position and simultaneously to rotate the flap members downwardly, and a second movably mounted control device connected to the flap members and to the runner members and adapted to rotate the runner members in the same direction, and simultaneously to depress only the fiap member on the side toward which the fore-to-aft line of the runner members is inclined 9. A craft as claimed in claim Sin which the sidesv on the portside of the craft are parallel to. lines tangent .to the closest portion of the minimum turning circle when the craft is making a minimum. turn to the right and the sides on the starboard side of the craft areparallel to lines tangent to the closest portion of the minimumturning fiicle when the craft is making a minimumturn to the e t.
10. vA craft capable of travelling over snow, ice, land and water comprising a pointed bow section, a pointed stern section, a substantially rectangular mid-section intermediate and secured to the bow and stern sections, a bottom having a keel and extending under said sections and being in the shape of a shallow Vv and inclining upwardly under the bow section, a runner adjacent and parallel to each of said side edges of the bottom with the keel and the runners lying in a single plane, a deck over the bow section, curved sides extending downwardly from said deck to the bottom thereunder, an inwardly inclined step portion extending along each side of the mid-section parallel to the side edges of the bottom thereunder, vertical sides joining the step portions and said edges of the bottom, a deck over the stern section, straight sides along theedges of the bottom under the stern section and extending vertically upwards therefrom, a pair of wells adjacent the-forward end of the bottom, a pair of wheels on the craft with each wheel being retractable into a dilferent one of the wells, a third wheel mounted on the stern section and an air propeller mounted on the stern section.
References Cited in the file of this patent V,
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name w a Date a 1,048,337 Olfenburger .Dec. 24, 1912 1,450,197 Zwickey Apr. 3, 1923 1,710,869 Farrell Apr. 30, 1929 1,716,230 Ingram June 4, 1929 1,816,118 Knight July 28, 1931 1,928,552 Band Sept. 26, 1933 2,054,011 Isherwood Sept. 8, 19.36 2,165,633 Hunt July'll, 1939 2,259,804 Davis et al. Oct. 21, 1941 2,276,310 James Mar. 17, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date a 1,364 Great Britain of 1881 do of said centerline for pivotal move-
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US180459A US2695584A (en) | 1950-08-19 | 1950-08-19 | Surface craft |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US180459A US2695584A (en) | 1950-08-19 | 1950-08-19 | Surface craft |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US2695584A true US2695584A (en) | 1954-11-30 |
Family
ID=22660547
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US180459A Expired - Lifetime US2695584A (en) | 1950-08-19 | 1950-08-19 | Surface craft |
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Country | Link |
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US (1) | US2695584A (en) |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2914013A (en) * | 1956-10-02 | 1959-11-24 | Bizjak Stanley | Air deflecting vanes for steering air propelled vehicles |
US3176647A (en) * | 1961-05-08 | 1965-04-06 | Aloysius F Grengs | Rescue craft |
US3191571A (en) * | 1962-06-27 | 1965-06-29 | Rex Ronald Leroy | Land, water, ice and snow boat |
US3500784A (en) * | 1968-09-20 | 1970-03-17 | Robert G Reynolds | Surface craft |
US3786774A (en) * | 1972-08-21 | 1974-01-22 | W Gabel | Airboat |
US4505441A (en) * | 1983-06-20 | 1985-03-19 | Grumman Aerospace Corporation | Terrain-following transient surface contact vehicle |
US6056608A (en) * | 1998-08-21 | 2000-05-02 | Rivercraft Llc | Air boat |
US20040227312A1 (en) * | 2003-05-16 | 2004-11-18 | Dick Brian W. | Staggered ski skag |
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US1048337A (en) * | 1912-07-11 | 1912-12-24 | William Offenburger | Convertible boat. |
US1450197A (en) * | 1921-07-11 | 1923-04-03 | Clifford J Zwickey | Sport car |
US1710869A (en) * | 1928-01-20 | 1929-04-30 | James M Farrell | Speed vessel |
US1716230A (en) * | 1928-04-05 | 1929-06-04 | H W Pramer | Combined sleigh and boat |
US1816118A (en) * | 1928-05-21 | 1931-07-28 | Morris C Knight | Ice and water boat |
US1928552A (en) * | 1932-09-07 | 1933-09-26 | Charles E Band | Combined boat and aeroplane |
US2054011A (en) * | 1932-07-26 | 1936-09-08 | Isherwood Joseph William | Construction of floating vessels |
US2165633A (en) * | 1938-10-25 | 1939-07-11 | John D Hunt | Boat |
US2259804A (en) * | 1941-02-17 | 1941-10-21 | Howard R Davis | Snow vehicle |
US2276310A (en) * | 1940-08-02 | 1942-03-17 | Claude Allen Moore | Snow boat |
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Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US1048337A (en) * | 1912-07-11 | 1912-12-24 | William Offenburger | Convertible boat. |
US1450197A (en) * | 1921-07-11 | 1923-04-03 | Clifford J Zwickey | Sport car |
US1710869A (en) * | 1928-01-20 | 1929-04-30 | James M Farrell | Speed vessel |
US1716230A (en) * | 1928-04-05 | 1929-06-04 | H W Pramer | Combined sleigh and boat |
US1816118A (en) * | 1928-05-21 | 1931-07-28 | Morris C Knight | Ice and water boat |
US2054011A (en) * | 1932-07-26 | 1936-09-08 | Isherwood Joseph William | Construction of floating vessels |
US1928552A (en) * | 1932-09-07 | 1933-09-26 | Charles E Band | Combined boat and aeroplane |
US2165633A (en) * | 1938-10-25 | 1939-07-11 | John D Hunt | Boat |
US2276310A (en) * | 1940-08-02 | 1942-03-17 | Claude Allen Moore | Snow boat |
US2259804A (en) * | 1941-02-17 | 1941-10-21 | Howard R Davis | Snow vehicle |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2914013A (en) * | 1956-10-02 | 1959-11-24 | Bizjak Stanley | Air deflecting vanes for steering air propelled vehicles |
US3176647A (en) * | 1961-05-08 | 1965-04-06 | Aloysius F Grengs | Rescue craft |
US3191571A (en) * | 1962-06-27 | 1965-06-29 | Rex Ronald Leroy | Land, water, ice and snow boat |
US3500784A (en) * | 1968-09-20 | 1970-03-17 | Robert G Reynolds | Surface craft |
US3786774A (en) * | 1972-08-21 | 1974-01-22 | W Gabel | Airboat |
US4505441A (en) * | 1983-06-20 | 1985-03-19 | Grumman Aerospace Corporation | Terrain-following transient surface contact vehicle |
US6056608A (en) * | 1998-08-21 | 2000-05-02 | Rivercraft Llc | Air boat |
US20040227312A1 (en) * | 2003-05-16 | 2004-11-18 | Dick Brian W. | Staggered ski skag |
US7487974B2 (en) * | 2003-05-16 | 2009-02-10 | Arctic Cat Inc. | Staggered ski skag |
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